Effects of elevated CO₂ concentration on seed production in C₃ annual plants

The response of seed production to CO₂ concentration ([CO₂]) is known to vary considerably among C₃ annual species. Here we analyse the interspecific variation in CO₂ responses of seed production per plant with particular attention to nitrogen use. Provided that seed production is limited by nitrogen availability, an increase in seed mass per plant results from increase in seed nitrogen per plant and/or from decrease in seed nitrogen concentration ([N]). Meta-analysis reveals that the increase in seed mass per plant under elevated [CO₂] is mainly due to increase in seed nitrogen per plant rather than seed [N] dilution. Nitrogen-fixing legumes enhanced nitrogen acquisition more than non-nitrogen-fixers, resulting in a large increase in seed mass per plant. In Poaceae, an increase in seed mass per plant was also caused by a decrease in seed [N]. Greater carbon allocation to albumen (endosperm and/or perisperm) than the embryo may account for [N] reduction in grass seeds. These differences in CO₂ response of seed production among functional groups may affect their fitness, leading to changes in species composition in the future high-[CO₂] ecosystem.